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Glite Dictionary
Smilax rotundifolia

Smilax rotundifolia

9.9
A very prickly vine with shiny round leaves and clusters of black berries you cannot eat
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Smilax rotundifolia
  • Gardeners often try to remove Smilax rotundifolia because of its tough, sprawling vines and sharp thorns.

Examples

  • Clusters of shiny black berries hang from the tangled stems of Smilax rotundifolia in late summer.

  • The thickets of Smilax rotundifolia made it difficult to walk through the forest.

  • The Smilax rotundifolia is often found in dense thickets.

  • Have you seen the Smilax rotundifolia growing near the river?

  • In late summer, the clusters of shiny black berries on the Smilax rotundifolia attract the attention of curious hikers.

  • Gardeners struggle to manage the rapid growth of Smilax rotundifolia due to its prickly vines and sharp thorns.

  • The dense tangle of Smilax rotundifolia made the forest path almost impassable for those trying to navigate through it.

Synonyms

greenbrier
vsSmilax rotundifolia
  • US
3 9.9

A climbing woody plant with sharp thorns, shiny leaves, and berries you cannot eat

is the same species but named differently in other sources
catbrier
vsSmilax rotundifolia
  • Specialized
9.9

A prickly woody vine with round stems, shiny leaves, and black berries in eastern woods

is the same plant expressed by a different common name
horse-brier
vsSmilax rotundifolia
  • US
9.9

A very prickly woody vine with tough round stems, shiny leaves, and black berries

is the same plant known under another regional name
horse brier
vsSmilax rotundifolia
  • US
9.9

A prickly vine with hard round stems and shiny black berries that are not edible

is the same plant but identified by a different traditional name
bullbrier
vsSmilax rotundifolia
  • US
9.9

A very prickly climbing plant with tough stems and shiny black berries not for eating

is the same species but known by other common names

Surface Forms

Smilax rotundifolia singular
Smilax rotundifolias plural

Morphology

Smilax + rotundifolia

The name is a botanical Latin binomial combining a genus (Smilax, a climbing thorny shrub) with a specific epithet that literally means 'round‑leaved' in Latin. While the overall meaning (a Smilax with round leaves) is compositionally derivable for someone who recognises the Latin parts, the epithet is not an English word and the construction is specialised; therefore an average B1 learner who knows everyday English constituents would likely not predict the sense without botanical or Latin knowledge.

Etymology

Smilax rotundifolia is a plant name that paints a clear picture: Smilax is an old name for climbing, prickly vines and rotundifolia literally means 'round leaves' in Latin. That's why the name fits a tough, thorny vine with shiny round leaves and clusters of black berries.